Eustachy Faces Deadline for Appeal

CHUCK SCHOFFNER

Published 8:00 pm, Saturday, May 3, 2003

AP Sports Writer

Iowa State basketball coach Larry Eustachy has until Monday to appeal the athletic director's recommendation that he be fired.

Eustachy, the Cyclones' coach for five years, has been consulting with his attorneys since then and has said he would fight to keep his job. One of the lawyers wouldn't say Sunday whether Eustachy would file an appeal.

Athletic director Bruce Van De Velde suspended Eustachy and urged the university to fire him after it was reported that the coach partied and drank with college students in Columbia, Mo., and Manhattan, Kan., following games in those cities.

On Saturday, Alabama fired new football coach Mike Price before he even coached a game because of his conduct on a trip to a pro-am golf tournament last month.

Under Eustachy's contract, which pays him $1.1 million a year, he had five days to appeal Van De Velde's recommendation, made Wednesday. That same day, Eustachy said he's an alcoholic and is undergoing treatment.

An appeal would be something rarely, if ever, invoked on behalf of an Iowa State coach.

Iowa State has not fired a coach in a major sport since football coach Jim Criner was ousted in November 1986 after his program was accused of numerous NCAA rules violations.

There was no appeal then, and Criner's dismissal took effect immediately.

An appeal would be heard by Tahira K. Hira, Iowa State's assistant to the president of external affairs. The hearing must be held within 20 days of an appeal, though that time could be extended if both sides agree.

If Hira were to uphold Van De Velde's recommendation, Eustachy could appeal to university president Gregory Geoffroy. If the recommendation were overturned, there are no provisions for Van De Velde to appeal, university spokesman John McCarroll said.

"It would appear at that point he would not be fired," McCarroll said.

McCarroll also said there was nothing spelled out that would allow Eustachy to appeal beyond the president, such as to the state Board of Regents.

Eustachy's appearance at the college parties was reported last Monday by The Des Moines Register, which ran photos that showed Eustachy holding a beer can and kissing and being kissed by women on the cheek.

The photos were taken by a University of Missouri student who mailed them to the Register.

News organizations and newspapers across the country have picked up on the story, putting the spotlight on a university unaccustomed to such attention. Van De Velde and Geoffroy said the episode embarrassed the school.

The stories didn't end with Eustachy's suspension. The next day, Van De Velde suspended Steve Barnes, Eustachy's top assistant. Barnes was accused of telling a player and his family to help Eustachy fight for his job and to "go after the people that got us." Barnes denied making such a remark.

On Friday, the university released documents showing Eustachy had broken NCAA rules by twice paying players to make free throws. The NCAA suspended Eustachy for one game.